Bengaluru: Karnataka witnessed a political handover on Wednesday as DK Shivakumar, eight-time legislator and president of the Pradesh Congress Committee, was sworn in as the 34th Chief Minister at Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru, marking the end of Siddaramaiah's tenure.
At precisely 4.15 pm, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath. Shivakumar, holding a copy of the Constitution, invoked the name of late seer Gangadhara Ajjayya and offered floral tributes before taking charge. In contrast, Deputy CM G Parameshwara swore in the name of BR Ambedkar, while ministers KH Muniyappa and KJ George took oath in the name of God.
Hours earlier, the Congress released a list of 13 cabinet ministers sworn in alongside Shivakumar, including Yathindra Siddaramaiah, U.T. Khader, M.B. Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Ramalinga Reddy, Krishna Byregowda, Priyank Kharge, Ishwar Khandre, Byrathi Suresh, and Sharan Prakash Patil. The cabinet will be expanded after the Rajya Sabha elections.
The ceremony drew a galaxy of leaders: Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Congress CMs from Kerala, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh. Religious leaders, pourakarmikas, farmers' representatives, Dalit activists, and Kannada voices were also present, underscoring Shivakumar's attempt to project inclusivity.